Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A reading apparatus arranged at a position between an operator and a customer who stand in a face-to-face manner, comprising: a main body; a first image capturing section for the operator, arranged at the main body, configured to photograph a commodity to capture an image of the commodity; a second image capturing section for the customer, arranged at the main body, configured to photograph an object held by the customer to capture an image of the object; a processing section configured to execute a sales registration processing; and an output section configured to acquire images captured by the first image capturing section and the second image capturing section to output the images to the processing section, wherein the output section is configured to, when a transaction start is instructed: acquire the images captured by the first image capturing section and the second image capturing section, and add an identifier to each image, the identifier being indicative of a source that captures an image at a time of the image being acquired, to be output to the processing section.
This invention relates to a reading apparatus positioned between an operator and a customer facing each other, designed to streamline sales transactions by capturing and processing images of commodities and customer-held objects. The apparatus includes a main body housing two image capturing sections: one for the operator to photograph commodities and another for the customer to photograph objects they hold. A processing section executes sales registration tasks, while an output section collects images from both capturing sections. When a transaction begins, the output section acquires images from both sections, assigns identifiers to each image to indicate their source (operator or customer), and sends them to the processing section. This setup ensures clear differentiation between operator-captured and customer-captured images during transactions, improving accuracy and efficiency in sales processing. The apparatus is particularly useful in retail environments where quick, accurate item identification is critical, such as self-checkout or assisted checkout systems. The identifiers help the processing section correctly associate images with their respective sources, reducing errors in item recognition and transaction handling.
2. The reading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the main body has an upper surface inclined downwards from an operator side to a customer side, and the second image capturing section is arranged at the inclined upper surface.
A reading apparatus is designed for capturing images of documents or objects placed on its surface. The apparatus includes a main body with an upper surface that slopes downward from the operator side (where the user stands) toward the customer side (where the document or object is placed). This inclined design helps position the document at an optimal angle for imaging. The apparatus also includes a second image capturing section mounted on this inclined upper surface. This second image capturing section is positioned to capture images of the document or object from an elevated angle, improving visibility and reducing distortion. The main body may also include a first image capturing section positioned below the upper surface, allowing for additional imaging perspectives. The apparatus may further include a display for showing the captured images, a communication interface for transmitting data, and a processing unit for analyzing the images. The inclined design and dual imaging sections enhance the accuracy and efficiency of document or object scanning, particularly in environments where documents are placed at varying angles or distances.
3. The reading apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the second image capturing section has an image photographing direction substantially orthogonal to the inclined upper surface.
A reading apparatus is designed to capture images of documents or objects placed on an inclined surface. The apparatus includes a first image capturing section positioned to capture images of the document or object from a direction substantially parallel to the inclined surface. This allows for accurate imaging of text or features aligned with the surface. Additionally, the apparatus includes a second image capturing section with an image photographing direction substantially orthogonal to the inclined surface. This orthogonal imaging provides a different perspective, useful for capturing details that may not be visible from the parallel angle, such as depth or texture variations. The combination of these two imaging directions enables comprehensive analysis of the document or object, improving accuracy in tasks like optical character recognition (OCR) or surface inspection. The apparatus may be used in applications where documents are scanned at an angle, or where objects with varying surface characteristics need to be analyzed from multiple perspectives. The orthogonal imaging section ensures that features perpendicular to the surface are captured clearly, enhancing overall data quality.
4. The reading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the main body has an opening on a surface thereof facing the operator, the first capturing section photographs an image through the opening of the main body, and the reading apparatus further comprises a first display section for the operator, arranged above the opening of the main body, configured to display information relating to the sales registration processing and a second display section for the customer, arranged nearby the second image capturing section, configured to display a guidance screen for instructing the customer to hold the object in front of the second image capturing section so that the object is photographed.
A reading apparatus for sales registration processing includes a main body with an opening on the operator-facing surface, allowing a first image capturing section to photograph an object through this opening. The apparatus also features a first display section positioned above the opening to show the operator information related to sales registration. Additionally, a second display section is placed near a second image capturing section to guide the customer by displaying instructions for holding the object in front of the second image capturing section to ensure proper imaging. The second image capturing section captures images of the object for processing. The apparatus may also include a reading section for reading information from the object, such as a barcode or QR code, and a control section to process the captured images and perform sales registration tasks. The design ensures efficient and user-friendly operation for both the operator and the customer during sales transactions.
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October 13, 2020
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